SKHS valedictorian Victoria Gu sets her sights on Harvard

June 17, 2011

South Kingstown High School Valedictorian Victoria Gu will graduate tonight with her fellow students.

SOUTH KINGSTOWN â She conquered academia at South Kingstown High School. She succeeded as the top tennis player. She even overcame the lengthy bike ride from her home to come do this interview. Now, Victoria Gu, the valedictorian of the class of 2011 at South Kingstown will set her sights on Cambridge, Mass. and Harvard University.

Over the past four years hard work and focus got Gu to where she is today, the top of her class and an incoming freshman to one of New Englandâs most elite ivy league school, where she will study biomedical engineering.

When Gu found out in May she was the class valedictorian, it was something she was expecting after also being the top of her class at Curtis Corner Middle School four years earlier and working hard in school.

âIt took a lot of hard work and staying focused and trying my best in everything,â Gu said.

Guâs hard work paid off. After applying to Princeton, MIT, Yale University and Harvard, Gu was accepted to all and had to make a choice between some of the best schools in the nation. Gu was first accepted to Yale for early action, but wanted to see where else she would be accepted before making her decision. After spending a weekend at Harvard as part of its preview weekend, she knew the school and its Cambridge campus were the right choice for her.

âI liked the campus and the area around it. There is so much to do on campus. Iâm looking forward to living in a dorm, meeting new people and being in Cambridge. There are so many places to go and see,â Gu said.
Taking advanced placement and honors courses at South Kingstown High School, Gu believes prepared her well for Harvard. During her years in high school, Gu said she participated in the math team, the academic decathlon, FIRST Robotics and played the violin in the school orchestra, all of which no doubt helped her succeed academically even more. Her interest in math and science had sparked an interest for Gu to study biomedical engineering in college.

âIâve always been interested in science and engineering,â Gu said. âI want to help people. I want to do biomedical engineering to improve peopleâs lives.â